1
At that time Abijah, Jeroboam’s son, fell ill.
2
Then Jeroboam said to his wife, “Get ready! Disguise yourself, so that no one will know that you are Jeroboam’s wife, and go to Shiloh. Is not the prophet Ahijah there? It was he who told me that I would be king over this people.
3
Take with you ten loaves, some cakes of raisins, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to this child.”
4
Jeroboam’s wife did so. She got ready, went to Shiloh, and came to Ahijah’s house. Ahijah could no longer see, because his eyes had grown dim from old age.
5
But the LORD had said to Ahijah, “Behold, Jeroboam’s wife is coming to ask you about her son, for the child is sick. Thus and thus you shall speak to her.”
When the woman came in, she made herself out to be another woman.
6
But as soon as Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came through the door, he said, “Come in, Jeroboam’s wife! Why do you pretend to be someone else? I have been sent to bring you a hard message.
7
Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I raised you up from among the people and made you ruler over My people Israel;
8
I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like My servant David, who kept all My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, doing only what was right in My sight.
9
You have done more evil than all who were before you, and you have made for yourself other gods and cast images, provoking Me to anger, and you have turned your back on Me.
10
Therefore I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, whether bond or free. I will sweep away the house of Jeroboam as one sweeps away dung until it is gone.
11
Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs will eat, and anyone who dies in the field the birds of the air will eat, for the LORD has spoken it.’
12
But rise up and go home. When your feet enter the city, the child will die.
13
All Israel will mourn for him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam’s house will be brought to the grave, because in the house of Jeroboam there was found in him something good before the LORD, the God of Israel.
14
And the LORD will raise up for himself a king over Israel who will cut off the house of Jeroboam—this is now coming to pass.
15
Then the LORD will strike Israel, so that it will be shaken like a reed in the water, and he will uproot them from this good land that he gave to their fathers; he will scatter them beyond the River Euphrates, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking the LORD to anger.
16
He will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”
17
Then Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed, and she came to Tirzah. As she entered the threshold of the house, the child died.
18
They buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.
19
The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
20
The length of Jeroboam’s reign was twenty-two years; then he rested with his fathers. And his son became king in his place.
21
Now Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD chose out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman.
22
And Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with the sins they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.
23
For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
24
There were even cult prostitutes in the land. They acted according to all the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the people of Israel.
25
In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.
26
He took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything. He also took away all the gold shields that Solomon had made.
27
In their place King Rehoboam made bronze shields and entrusted them to the commanders of the guard who kept the door of the king’s house.
28
Whenever the king went into the house of the LORD, the guards would carry them in, and then bring them back to the guardroom.
29
The rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
30
And there was continual war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
31
Then Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother’s name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. And Abijam his son became king in his place.
💔🕯️⚖️ Summary of 1 Kings 14 – Judgment on Jeroboam and Rehoboam
1 Kings 14 is a chapter full of the Lord’s judgment on two kings: Jeroboam (northern Israel) and Rehoboam (southern Judah). Jeroboam, who began the worship of the golden calves, is now punished because his son is sick, and God foretells the total destruction of his family. Meanwhile, Rehoboam also led Judah into idolatry, causing both kingdoms to fall spiritually. This becomes a stern warning that political success without spiritual faithfulness brings ruin.
📌 1. Jeroboam’s Son Is Sick (verses 1–3)
➡️ Jeroboam tells his wife to disguise herself and go to the prophet Ahijah in Shiloh to find out what will happen to their sick son
➡️ She brings bread, cakes, and honey as an offering
🎯 Even the strongest king is helpless when faced with family suffering.
📌 2. The Prophecy of the Prophet Ahijah (verses 4–16)
➡️ Though blind, Ahijah received a vision from the Lord and immediately knew of Jeroboam’s wife’s coming
➡️ He delivered a stern message:
- The Lord chose Jeroboam, but he made Israel sin even more than before
- The child will die, and he alone of Jeroboam’s family will die in peace
- The whole family of Jeroboam will be swept away like refuse
- The Lord will give Israel over to its enemies and destroy the kingdom because of sin
🎯 Jeroboam’s son dies not as a curse, but as grace, so that he would not perish together with the wicked family.
📌 3. The Death of Jeroboam’s Son and the End of Jeroboam’s Life (verses 17–20)
➡️ As soon as Jeroboam’s wife arrived home, the child died
➡️ All Israel mourned, according to Ahijah’s prophecy
➡️ Jeroboam reigned 22 years and died in disgrace, succeeded by his son Nadab
🎯 A life that begins with great promise can end tragically because of disobedience.
📌 4. Rehoboam Also Sinned (verses 21–24)
➡️ Rehoboam reigned in Jerusalem for 17 years
➡️ He led Judah in idolatry:
- High places of sacrifice
- Idol images
- Even cult prostitution in the temple
➡️ Judah did more evil than their ancestors
🎯 When spiritual leaders fall, the whole nation follows them into evil.
📌 5. Defeat and Plundering by the King of Egypt (verses 25–28)
➡️ In the 5th year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem
➡️ He took all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the palace, including the gold shields made by Solomon
➡️ Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields
🎯 Lost spiritual glory cannot be replaced by empty symbols.
📌 6. The Death of Rehoboam (verses 29–31)
➡️ Rehoboam died and was succeeded by his son, Abijah
➡️ Throughout his life, Judah was involved in constant warfare with Israel
🎯 The two kingdoms that sprang from David were now ruined by disobedience and strife.
📖 Main Teaching
- The LORD will not allow false worship to continue without judgment
- Leadership carries great responsibility — the failure of one person can ruin an entire nation
- God’s warning always comes before judgment
- Outward splendor cannot hide spiritual ruin
- Children are sometimes “rescued” from the inheritance of their parents’ curse through the Lord’s merciful death
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“The Lord disciplines the one He loves.”
➡️ As with Jeroboam’s son who died as the only one found “pleasing,” God’s discipline can be a form of love.
“By their fruit you will know them.”
➡️ Jeroboam and Rehoboam bore destruction even though they held the position of king.
“Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
➡️ Both Jeroboam and Rehoboam fell because of spiritual and political pride.
“Do not store up treasures on earth…”
➡️ All the treasures of Jerusalem (the gold shields) were lost, showing the frailty of worldly splendor without God.
🕊️ “The whole house of Jeroboam shall be destroyed… like refuse swept away.” – 1 Kings 14:10
🕊️ “In all the house of Jeroboam there was none left worthy of burial.” – 1 Kings 14:13
🕊️ “Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD…” – 1 Kings 14:22
🕊️ “Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away all the treasures.” – 1 Kings 14:25–26
